Stefano Cataldi of Merton Weightlifting Club has been named the London Sportivate Participant of the Year by Sport England
Stefano is a member of Merton Weightlifting Club, which has been backed by Sportivate project funding, a programme which encourages young people to get more active
Stefano is one of the 780,000 young people who have attended Sportivate sessions nationwide in 2016.
Merton youngster, Stefano Cataldi has been named the Sportivate Participant of the Year for London for his commitment to weightlifting in 2016. Stefano is a regular participant at Merton Weightlifting Club, a club that provides opportunities to young people in Merton and the surround areas to participate in weightlifting. The GLL Sport Foundation support several of the club’s athletes, including Stefano.
Since taking up weightlifting, Stefano has been named club Lifter of the Year, become county champion and received a silver medal in national competition: his dedication has now been recognised by Sport England and London Sport. Merton Weightlifting Club, a London Sport-supported Sportivate project, has worked with dozens of young people in the past year, with Stefano’s enthusiasm and commitment recognised by his fellow participants and coaches.
Martin Marshall, Stefano’s Coach and GLL Employee, said:
“Stefano is the most dedicated person at the club. By sticking to the plans we developed with him, he won lifter of the year, became county champion and won silver at the Nationals. His attitude has helped him attract more young people to our sport, and makes him a real role model to new young people at our club.”
Chris Anderson, Programme Manager for Youth Participation at London Sport, said:
Congratulations to Stefano who has shown a tremendous commitment to weightlifting and his club. I am thrilled that London Sport has been able to offer support to the Sportivate programme and that Merton Weightlifting Club have supported Stefano in his development.
Mike Diaper, Director of Community Sport at Sport England, said:
“Congratulations to Stefano on this deserving win. Sportivate is all about encouraging and supporting young people who may have thought sport wasn’t for them. It takes real determination and courage to try something new and Stefano can be very proud that his hard work has paid off.”
We are very proud to be supporting Stefano, as well as other members of Merton Weightlifting Club. They have some very talented athletes who are all engaged with the foundation and really buy into our ethos.
